Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-01-06


the distance. Soft ileeey clouds sailed
over his head and the broad smile of
the sun lay like a golden benodicton on
the valley below. What contrast to
the beautiful scene before him was his
own swelling, anger-laden heart. that
his wife had thought turning to stone.
Now and then. as an ugly thought
co.no TO his mind. he kicked the earth
olt which he stood. sending the loose
stones rafting over the precipice in
front of him. Suddenly he heard
queer grating noise behind him. and
fell the earth tremblc under his feet.
Then he gave one fierce, blood-curdlng
yell of pain, aud his whole body wrlthed
and tossed in contortions OF agony,
while his eyes rolled in his head and
seemed starting from their sockets.
Tho opening in the rocks behind him
had let down the huge mass above it,
and the terrible weight had closed like
u wise over his elbows. and now held
him firmly pnioned.
After the loose earth and rocks had
ceased rafting down. and all was quiet
again. with the exception of the deep
grooming of the still struggling man,
and his slowly diminishing calls for
help he felt drop of the coolest water
upon his heated forehead; then another
rolled down. One by ono they came,
thicker aud faster, until his head was
numb with their GOODNESS. And now
with rush envcloping his whole body,
n beautiful waterfall gushod foaning
4 al. th. al. a.
dashed, and hiu entirely within its
vapory folds the body OF the man who
now hung dead and cold from the
cinched rocks; and the crystal spring
born far away among the flint rocks and
baptized with copious charge OF
silica, now reioiced in unaloycd liber-
". Those who viewed its wondroGs
beauty from below, aud felt its cool
breath as It dashed to the earth in
cloud of pearly spray and went laugh
ing through the green meadows, little
dreamed Of the dread secret 1t held III
its embrace.
The old cave had long been tenant
less. Janet and her family still lived
in Meadowvillc Tho children were
sAttNi 1 hNi UliN 1tNiiNN AlONllt anu VIZ wv
loved mother was we'll taken care of.
Johns mother had long lain in her
grave, aud Che villagers had ceased 10
wonder what had become of her way
ward son.
The mountains back of Meadowville
were said to be rich IN minerals A
party of gooogstA with their hammers
and chisels. wore enthusiastically search
ing for specimens. The beautiful spring
was running dry, and queer-shaped
rock divided its slender stream into
several tiny ulls Much curiosity was
eyinced regarding the queer shape of
tho stone Aftti' much wondering and
hard climbing, the spot was reached,
aud the hard black body of human
being discovered suspended from the
elbows.
The rock, after much labor, was cut
away and the body removed intact
from its long resting-place.
When the biologists drove through
the village with their curious burden a
crowd Of eager people followed the
wagon until it halted at tho end of the
principal street. Janet with her littlo
granddaughter Madge, came out of
door. "Sec thorep" lisped the little
one. Janet took one long look at the
contents of the wagon, and then turned
away with n great wonder in her heart
In the Museum ut -- now rests the
body Of the petrilied hermit lone Il.
Jones, IN It'd BITS